Sounds Around Town: Rock (’n’ roll) of ages

Thursday

Mar 27, 2014 at 1:06 PM

By Ed SymkusWicked Local Arts correspondent

When the documentary "Young @ Heart" was released in 2008, viewers got a chance to feel the celebratory vibes of senior citizens getting up on a stage and singing rock ’n’ roll. The film chronicled the rehearsals that led up to a concert performed by the Northampton-based group, under the direction of former singer-guitarist Bob Cilman, who, while working at the Walter Salvo House – a senior center in Northampton – in the early-1980s, got the project off the ground. The Young @ Heart Chorus is performing at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston on April 3."I knew the group had some legs the first time we did something publically in 1983," said Cilman of the choice to have his singers – average age, 81 – perform rock songs rather than the expected easy listening or show tunes. "The first real rock hit for the group was ‘Doo Wah Diddy.’ Now we do different songs every time we go out" – among them have been "Staying Alive," "Somebody to Love," and "I Wanna Be Sedated" – "but Dylan’s ‘Forever Young’ has become kind of an anthem for the group."Oddly, though the chorus did lots of shows in Western Massachusetts early on, mostly at the Academy of Music Theatre, they became far more popular in Europe – performing in Rotterdam, London, Bergen and Ghent – before they did in the States."The movie opened us up to concerts in America," said Cilman, who directs the singers and sometimes grabs a harmonica to join in with them and the backup band of guitar, bass, sax, drums, and piano.The current lineup of the chorus consists of singers ranging in age from 73 to 91. They’ll be doing two completely different sets of songs at the Wilbur."When I choose a song for them, I’m looking for energy," said Cilman. "The great thing about the music is that it provides so much energy for the group, even if it’s a ballad.The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$35. Info: 617-248-9700 or visit www.thewilbur.com.Come to the (American Songbook) CabaretWell into its second decade, the Boston Association of Cabaret Artists (BACA) takes the stage of the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham on March 30 with an Invitation Showcase featuring Boston-area singers Bobbi Carrey and Will McMillan, along with pianist Doug HammerMcMillan and Hammer will start the show with songs about love, ranging from "All My Loving" to "Love Walked In" to "Love’s in Need of Love Today." They’ll then be joined by their longtime performing partner Carrey, and the harmony-filled set will include tunes from such stage musicals and movies as "Annie Get Your Gun," "The Fantasticks," "Toy Story" and "Wicked."Showtime is an early 6 p.m. Tickets are $15. Info: 508-405-2787.APP alertAPP is short for the Alan Parsons Project, the futuristic art-rock British band that released 10 albums between 1976 and 1987. The namesake of the group started off as an engineer, working as an assistant on "Abbey Road," "Let It Be" and, most famously as engineer on "The Dark Side of the Moon," then went on to his own recording and performing career. He’s finally released all of the band’s output in one package: "The Alan Parsons Project – The Complete Albums Collection," which starts with "Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe," concludes with "Gaudi," and features the previously unreleased 1981 album "The Sicilian Defence." Release date is March 31.Upcoming clubs and concertsThe great Brookline jazz saxophonist Grace Kelly plays two sets of standards and her own compositions at Scullers in Boston on March 28. The Berklee Performance Center in Boston hosts Shawn Colvin and Steve Earle, who will take turns at singing songs and telling stories and do a few duets on March 28. The snowed-out February show by the New Flamenco Trio (Juanito Pascual, Brad Barrett, Tupac Mantilla) is now set for March 28 at Sanders Theater in Cambridge. A rare treat is in store at Harvard when the Juilliard String Quartet invites the public to a free open rehearsal at 11 a.m. on March 29 in Farkas Hall, 10-12 Holyoke St., Cambridge. Passim presents a Pete Seeger tribute on March 30. The line-up of performers is still being lined up. Australian duo Jagwar Ma brings their blend of psychedelia and beach pop to the Sinclair in Cambridge on April 1. Solo pianist extraordinaire Ran Blake makes up his canceled February show at the Regattabar in Cambridge with a rescheduled one (which he plans to play in a darkened room) on April 2. Guitarist J. Geils gets down with some jazz and blues at Johnny D’s in Somerville on April 3.Video of the weekThe Young @ Heart Chorus, under the direction of Bob Cilman, covers "I Got You" and "I Wanna Be Sedated" at www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2Uezbw0U0Ed Symkus can be reached at esymkus@rcn.com.